South African cricket legend AB de Villiers hopes the BCCI will eventually permit Indian players to participate in SA20, believing their involvement would significantly boost the young franchise league. Currently, Dinesh Karthik is the only Indian cricketer set to compete in SA20, a move made possible after his retirement from international and domestic cricket. As per BCCI regulations, active Indian players are prohibited from participating in overseas leagues. Consequently, the only pathway for Indian players to join such events is to retire from domestic cricket, a trend gaining traction as more players eye opportunities abroad.
“I’d love to see more Indian players in SA20,” de Villiers remarked during a media interaction ahead of SA20’s third edition, scheduled to start on January 9. “Dinesh Karthik’s inclusion is fantastic, and I hope the BCCI allows more Indian players to join the SA20 in the future.”
De Villiers recognizes that the BCCI is unlikely to permit active Indian players in overseas leagues anytime soon. However, he expressed a desire to see stars like Virat Kohli competing in SA20. “It would be amazing to see Indian players at the peak of their careers playing here. If I had to pick, I’d choose Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav. Imagine SKY (Suryakumar Yadav) playing in SA20—that would be phenomenal!”
Reflecting on retired players, de Villiers mentioned, “Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, or even Irfan Pathan come to mind. Some of them already play in Masters Leagues. Who knows, I might join them one day.”
De Villiers also emphasized the importance of overseas talent for the growth of SA20. “The IPL’s success largely stems from its strong contingent of international players. Since 2008, the league has consistently attracted the best players worldwide. To keep SA20 competitive, Graeme Smith and his team must continue bringing in top overseas talent.”
On the controversial impact player rule, de Villiers expressed reservations. While the rule has been extended in the IPL until 2027, he doesn’t favor introducing it in SA20. “I’m not a big fan of the impact player rule. I spoke about it during the IPL last season. It feels a bit confusing and adds pressure on all-rounders, affecting their role in the team. From the outside, it looks exciting, but during games, I’ve found it unnecessary. That said, SA20 has always been open to experimenting with new ideas, which is commendable.”
De Villiers concluded by highlighting the need for SA20 to continuously innovate while focusing on attracting top-tier talent, both local and international. The league’s success, he believes, lies in its ability to offer high-quality cricket, akin to the IPL